Article dispenser with cam actuated gate

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a can dispensing mechanism for releasing containers from a row of containers stored in an automatic vending machine. A slide driven by a motor or solenoid operates a can control gate and a row gate which are in the form of L-shaped levers. The slide is provided with gate position control surfaces including an inclined ramp or cam surface, an offset surface and an end surface. The control surfaces change the position of the gates about their pivotal connections during movement of the slide through the vend cycle. The gates are gravity biased to the open position and move into can blocking positions under influence of the control surfaces on the slide. Springs and complicated linkages are eliminated to provide a reliable, inexpensive, maintenance free unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a coin operated vending machine having a frame, a magazine supported on said frame with a sloping guide surface for supporting and delivering by gravity the leading container from a row of containers, the improvement comprising a leading container gate, means for supporting said leading container gate on said frame for movement between an advanced leading container blocking position and movement to a retracted leading container release position, a row gate, means for supporting said row gate on said frame for movement between a row blocking position and a row advance position, means for operating said leading container gate and row gate to separate and release the leading container from the row and hold back the row of containers during separation, said means including a slide having first, second and third gate position controlling surfaces, said second surface being inclined and transverse with respect to said first surface and the direction of reciprocating movement of the slide and said third surface being offset from the axis of reciprocation, said first surface being at a steeper angle than said second surface to provide a fast rise time for the row gate to catch a can prior to movement thereof and wherein said third surface has a portion inclined forwardly in the direction of the path of movement of the container to urge said slide to the retracted position and toward the longitudinal axis of the slide, and means for supporting the slide on said frame for reciprocating movement between an extended and retracted position, and motor means for reciprocating said slide in a standby and vend cycle whereby said leading container gate is supported on said third surface during standby and said row gate is supported on said first surface and, upon energization of the motor means, said row gate will move into a row blocking position upon lateral movement of said slide toward said row gate as said inclined surface coacts with said gate and then said leading container gate dropping from said third surface portion by gravity and the weight of the container when the slide reaches the vend position to remove the gate from the path of the first container and upon release of the container the slide returning to the standby position. 
     
     
       2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said gates comprise generally L-shaped levers with one end pivotally connected to said frame and including rollers rotatably supported on said levers and in rolling contact with said control surfaces. 
     
     
       3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said leading gate lever is bifurcated and receives the juncture of said offset and end control surfaces when said leading gate is in the vend position. 
     
     
       4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said motor means comprises a solenoid. 
     
     
       5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said motor means includes an electric motor, gear reduction and a crank and link assembly.